Swastikas will stay in park for ‘historical significance,’ Canadian town says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The mayor of a Canadian town refused to remove an anchor with a swastika painted on it in a park, saying it contains local "historical significance" and should remain in the public space.
The anchor, said to be a "souvenir of Nazism," was placed in a park in Pointe-des-Cascades, about 30 miles west of Montreal, according to the BBC. The town said the anchor was uncovered about 25 years ago from a merchant vessel before World War II.
Corey Fleischer, founder of Erasing Hate, went to the park last Thursday to paint over the Swastika, but was stopped by Mayor Gilles Santerre.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Maybe the city did not know," Fleischer told the BBC. "But I know exactly what this is. There is no ifs ands or buts about it."
But Santerre released a statement on the town's website on Tuesday saying the Pointe-des-Cascades did not "endorse Nazism."
"Our village has a beautiful community and family spirit, and creates events that bring people together," Santerre said, adding officials will move the explanation plaque closer to the anchor.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fleischer said the piece of history did not belong in a public park, but a museum.
"[A museum] is a place where people come to feel safe and this is being displayed for everybody to see," Fleischer said.